7 Beauty Changes to Make Before You Try to Get Pregnant

Along with skipping happy hour and saying sayonara to sushi, you know there are
certain skin-care ingredients and treatments that are off-limits when you're pre
gnant. That's because they might be harmful to your unborn baby or there's simpl
y not enough evidence to prove that they're completely safe. But what you may no
t realize is that many of these same skin-care rules apply when you're trying to
conceive.
Related: What's Safe at the Spa When Pregnant?
Whether you're thinking about trying to have a baby or are actively working on i
t, here are the key changes you'll need to make to your skin-care routine to kee
p you and your baby-to-be safe and healthy.
Get a skin check.
Moles can change, darken, and enlarge during pregnancy, so it's best to have you
r dermatologist do a skin check including full-body photos and mole mapping, if yo
u have several moles before you get that BFP. "This way, you'll have a baseline fo
r what they looked like before and you won't worry yourself unnecessarily," says
Maritza I. Perez, dermatologist at Advanced Aesthetics in New Canaan, Connectic
ut, and director of cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai Westin New York City.
These skin checks are especially important to do before trying to conceive, sinc
e recent research shows that melanoma is more aggressive and deadly in pregnant
women. A January 2016 study found that women who were diagnosed with malignant m
elanoma during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth were more than five ti
mes more likely to die and nearly seven times more likely to have the cancer spr
ead to other parts of the body. Although researchers aren't sure why, hormonal c
hanges during pregnancy, such as higher levels of estrogen, are likely fueling t
he cancer.
Have any moles and skin tags removed.
"If you want any moles removed, do it now or wait until after you've given birth
," says dermatologist Karyn Grossman of Grossman Dermatology in Los Angeles and
New York City. Even though removing a mole is a minor procedure the area is numbed
and then the mole is typically shaved off there's a risk of infection and bleedin
g, which most dermatologists see as an unnecessary gamble if you might be pregna
nt.
The same goes for skin tags, those fleshy, benign growths that can crop up aroun
d your neck and eyes, and under your breasts. "You may want to get the ones you
already have removed before conception," says Dr. Perez. That's because skin tag
s will likely increase and possibly grow larger during pregnancy. To remove them
, a dermatologist can inject a numbing agent into the spot and then either cut o
r freeze off the skin tag.
Say goodbye to wrinkle-fighting retinoids for now.
The gold standard anti-aging treatment is a no-no both when you're trying to con
ceive and when you become pregnant. "Definitely stop retinoids of all sorts: pre
scription Retin-A, Differin, or Tazorac, and over-the-counter retinol," says Dr.
Grossman. Even though only a small amount is absorbed into the skin, topical re
tinoids may be harmful to the fetus. According to a 2011 study, the retinoid aci
d tretinoin has been linked to birth defects. "It's also important to check the
labels of any anti-aging, anti-acne, and anti-pigment products, as these may hav
e retinol as an active ingredient," adds Dr. Grossman.
But just because retinoids are out doesn't mean you have to put up with fine lin
es and dull skin while you're trying to get pregnant. Instead, talk to your doct
or about a daily antioxidant serum, such as SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic ($162), wh
ich softens fines lines and brightens and firms the skin. Dr. Perez recommends u
sing a moisturizer with peptides, such as Olay Professional ProX Anti-Aging Wrin
kle Smoothing Cream (around $40), which safely reduces wrinkles.
Switch to safer, gentler versions of acne treatments.
Acne-fighting staples salicylic and glycolic acids should go to the back of your
medicine cabinet for now. As with retinoids, only a relatively small amount is
absorbed into the skin, but there isn't enough research on the active ingredient
s' effects on pregnant women to classify them as completely safe. So dermatologi
sts err on the side of caution by recommending that pregnant women or those tryi
ng to conceive avoid them altogether.
Dermatologists' opinions are mixed regarding whether benzoyl peroxide is safe wh
en you're trying to conceive or are pregnant. A 2011 analysis points out that no
studies have been conducted on topical benzoyl peroxide use during pregnancy bu
t that, because such a small amount is absorbed through the skin, it's unlikely
to pose any risk to a developing fetus. Although you should always consult with
your obstetrician first about products you're using, Dr. Grossman typically allo
ws her trying-to-conceive patients to use benzoyl peroxide in low concentrations
, such as 2.5 percent, and only in cleanser form. "Cleansers are wash-off produc
ts, so there is less long-term contact with the skin and presumably less absorpt
ion into the skin," she says.
Or consider a natural solution for blemishes: niacinamide, which is vitamin B3.
The vitamin has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce acne flare-ups
, according to Dr. Perez. Bonus: Research also shows it reduces hyperpigmentatio
n, softens fine lines, and improves skin elasticity. Talk to your obstetrician a
bout taking niacinamide as a vitamin supplement or in topical form. If your acne
requires a more powerful treatment, your dermatologist may prescribe certain or
al antibiotics, such as erythromycin, or prescription azelaic acid (Finacea), wh
ich are generally considered safe to use both while trying to conceive and durin
g pregnancy when taken in the recommended amounts.
Start a prevention plan for melasma now.
Slathering on sunscreen every day is a given, but it's especially important to s
tick with it when you're trying to get pregnant (and when you already are). That
's because sunscreen helps blocks the ultraviolet light that can trigger and wor
sen melasma, a common type of hyperpigmentation that shows up as dark patches of
skin around the mouth, cheeks, and forehead. Some women who are trying to conce
ive or are pregnant feel more comfortable using natural physical sunblock, which
reflects UVA and UVB rays with minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Drs. G
rossman and Perez both recommend using a physical sunblock with SPF 50. Just be
sure to reapply every two hours you're in the sun and wear a wide-brimmed hat fo
r added protection.
Schedule your last Botox session.
Elective treatments, such as Botox or injectable fillers, are off-limits when yo
u're pregnant. There's simply not enough research to show whether it's safe to g
et either wrinkle-erasing treatment when you might be pregnant, according to the
FDA. "So if you're already getting those treatments done, schedule the last one
right before you start trying to conceive," says Dr. Perez. Or wait until you g
et your next period: "I tell patients if they are trying, they have their period
, and want Botox or fillers, we will do a urine test to confirm that they're not
pregnant before doing the injections," says Dr. Grossman.
Hold off on any varicose vein removal unless it can't wait.
If you have a vein that is bulging and tender or painful, have it examined by yo
ur dermatologist and possibly treated before trying to get pregnant, suggests Dr
. Grossman. But if you have unsightly veins on your legs that you want removed s
imply for cosmetic reasons, hang on until after baby arrives and after you've st
opping breastfeeding. "You may have more veins after pregnancy, so it's totally
a waste of time to remove them now," says Dr. Perez. In the meantime, when you d
o become pregnant, Dr. Grossman recommends wearing compression stockings, which
help prevent swelling and keep the veins from worsening.